Poland has changed the rules for employing foreigners: who now needs a work visa?

New employment rules for citizens of three countries came into force in Poland on August 22. From now on, citizens of Colombia, Georgia and Venezuela do not need only a work permit to work legally – they also need to obtain a work visa.

InPoland reports on the changes.

Who the new rules apply to

The restrictions apply to citizens of:

Colombia;

Georgia;

Venezuela.

Previously, citizens of these countries could use the visa-free regime to enter Poland and, if they have the appropriate documents, legally find work.

After the changes, in order to start working, it will be necessary to have not only a work permit, but also a work visa.

At the same time, the new requirements do not apply to foreigners who started working in Poland before the new rules came into force.

Polish employers opposed the changes

Business representatives criticized the innovation even at the stage of public consultations.

Piotr Rogowiecki from the Employers’ Association stressed that the Polish labor market needs migrant workers, and additional administrative barriers may make it difficult to attract workers.

This is especially relevant against the backdrop of demographic forecasts. According to estimates by the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS), by 2060, about 200,000 Poles will leave the labor market every year.

How many citizens of these countries work in Poland

Citizens of Georgia and Colombia have become a significant part of the Polish labor market in recent years.

According to the data provided, the following are officially working in Poland:

23,177 Colombian citizens;

22,118 Georgian citizens;

1,117 Venezuelan citizens.

Employer representatives note that foreigners often fill vacancies in areas where Polish companies have difficulty finding local workers.

The new requirements may increase the time and number of procedures required to attract citizens of these three countries to work.

For Ukrainians, these changes do not introduce new employment rules, as the decision applies to citizens of Colombia, Georgia, and Venezuela.